Variable depth circuit interrupter assembly with interlock

Abstract

An improved circuit interrupter assembly provides enablement of an interlock feature for a circuit interrupter situated within a cabinet having an external handle for switching the circuit interrupter between ON and OFF conditions when the cabinet door is closed. The improved circuit interrupter assembly includes a motion transfer apparatus that provides such enablement of the interlock feature for cabinets of any of a variety of depths. The motion transfer apparatus includes a Bowden cable that extends between a first retention assembly situated at the door of the cabinet and a second retention assembly situated at the interlock feature of the circuit interrupter. The Bowden cable has a biased drive cable that extends between a pair of elements and which thus transfers the motion of the cabinet door in its closed position to enable cooperation with the interlock.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A circuit interrupter assembly structured to be connected with an electrical circuit and comprising:
 a cabinet having a cabinet body and a door apparatus, the cabinet body having at least a first wall, the door apparatus being situated on the at least first wall and being movable between a closed position and an open position, the cabinet further having an interior region situated adjacent the at least first wall and adjacent the door apparatus in the closed position; 
 a circuit interrupter situated substantially entirely within the interior region, the circuit interrupter being structured to be electrically connected with the electrical circuit and being further structured to control the flow of current through at least a portion of the electrical circuit, the circuit interrupter comprising a mechanism that is structured to be movable to switch the circuit interrupter between an OFF condition and an ON condition; 
 a motion transfer apparatus structured to be cooperable with the door apparatus, the motion transfer apparatus comprising a transmission device that extends flexibly between the door apparatus in the closed position and the circuit interrupter, the transmission device being movable between a first position and a second position and being biased toward the first position, the transmission device being in the first position when the door apparatus is in its open position, the door engaging the transmission device and overcoming the bias to move the transmission device to the second position when the door apparatus is in its closed position; 
 the mechanism comprising an interlock that is cooperable with the transmission device and which, in the first position of the transmission device, is structured to resist at least one of:
 movement of the circuit interrupter from the ON condition to the OFF condition, and 
 movement of the circuit interrupter from the OFF condition to the ON condition; and 
 
 the interlock in the second position of the transmission device being structured to permit movement of the circuit interrupter between the ON and OFF conditions. 
 
     
     
       2. A motion transfer apparatus as set forth in  claim 1  and structured to cooperate with the cabinet and circuit interrupter as set forth in  claim 1 . 
     
     
       3. The circuit interrupter assembly of  claim 1  wherein:
 the door apparatus comprises a door and a handle, the door having a first side and a second side, the first side being situated adjacent the interior region in the closed position of the door apparatus, the second side being disposed opposite the first side, the handle being situated on the door adjacent the second side; 
 the circuit interrupter further comprising a housing on which the mechanism is situated and a connection element that is structured to extend between the handle and the mechanism in the closed position of the door apparatus; and 
 the handle in the closed position of the door apparatus being structured to operate the connection element and the mechanism to move the circuit interrupter between the ON and OFF conditions. 
 
     
     
       4. The circuit interrupter assembly of  claim 3  wherein the motion transfer apparatus further comprises a first retention assembly that is structured to retain a first end of the transmission device in a position wherein it is engaged by the door apparatus in its closed position. 
     
     
       5. The circuit interrupter assembly of  claim 4  wherein the connection element and the handle are structured to be operatively connected in the closed position of the door apparatus and are structured to be disconnected in the open position of the door apparatus, and wherein the first retention assembly is mounted to the connection element. 
     
     
       6. The circuit interrupter assembly of  claim 4  wherein the motion transfer apparatus further comprises a second retention assembly that is structured to retain a second end of the transmission device in another position whereby in the second position it is cooperable with the interlock. 
     
     
       7. The circuit interrupter assembly of  claim 6  wherein the first retention assembly is mounted to the connection element, and wherein the second retention assembly is mounted to the circuit interrupter. 
     
     
       8. A circuit interrupter assembly structured to be connected with an electrical circuit and comprising:
 a cabinet having a cabinet body and a door apparatus, the cabinet body having at least a first wall, the door apparatus being situated on the at least first wall and being movable between a closed position and an open position, the cabinet further having an interior region situated adjacent the at least first wall and adjacent the door apparatus in the closed position; 
 a circuit interrupter situated substantially entirely within the interior region, the circuit interrupter being structured to be electrically connected with the electrical circuit and being further structured to control the flow of current through at least a portion of the electrical circuit, the circuit interrupter comprising a mechanism that is structured to be movable to switch the circuit interrupter between an OFF condition and an ON condition; 
 a motion transfer apparatus structured to be cooperable with the door apparatus, the motion transfer apparatus comprising a transmission device that extends flexibly between the door apparatus in the closed position and the circuit interrupter, the transmission device being movable between a first position and a second position, the transmission device being in the first position when the door apparatus is in its open position, the transmission device being in the second position when the door apparatus is in its closed position; 
 the mechanism comprising an interlock that is cooperable with the transmission device and which, in the first position of the transmission device, is structured to resist at least one of:
 movement of the circuit interrupter from the ON condition to the OFF condition, and 
 movement of the circuit interrupter from the OFF condition to the ON condition; 
 
 the interlock in the second position of the transmission device being structured to permit movement of the circuit interrupter between the ON and OFF conditions; and 
 wherein the motion transfer apparatus further comprises a first retention assembly and a second retention assembly, and wherein the transmission device comprises a Bowden cable that extends between the first retention assembly and the second retention assembly, the Bowden cable comprising a sheath and a drive cable, the first retention assembly comprising a first mount to which a first end of the sheath is connected, the first mount being situated adjacent the door apparatus in its closed position, the second retention assembly comprising a second mount to which a second end of the sheath is connected, the second mount being situated adjacent the interlock. 
 
     
     
       9. A motion transfer apparatus as set forth in  claim 8  and structured to cooperate with the cabinet and circuit interrupter as set forth in  claim 8 . 
     
     
       10. The circuit interrupter assembly of  claim 8  wherein the first retention assembly further comprises an engagement element that is movably disposed on the first mount and is connected with a first end of the drive cable, the engagement element being structured to be engageable by the door apparatus moving toward its closed position to move the transmission device toward its second position. 
     
     
       11. The circuit interrupter assembly of  claim 10  wherein the second retention assembly further comprises an operation element situated at a second end of the drive cable and which, in the second position, is structured to be cooperable with the interlock. 
     
     
       12. The circuit interrupter assembly of  claim 10  wherein the transmission device is biased in a direction generally toward its first position. 
     
     
       13. The circuit interrupter assembly of  claim 12  wherein the first retention assembly further comprises a biasing element that is interposed between the mount and the engagement element and that biases the engagement element in a direction generally toward the door apparatus in its closed position.